Has Jose Mourinho been made the scapegoat Manchester United’s failure to attract big money signings last summer?
The outspoken Portuguese coach departs Old Trafford with the team sixth in the Premier League and 11 points outside the Champions League places. They are 19 points behind Liverpool but in the last 16 of this season’s Champions League, though face a tough tie against French champions Paris St-Germain in the knockout stages. The club will make a temporary internal appointment in the next couple of days to act as manager while a new permanent boss is sought with Michael Carrick the name being most mentioned.
Mourinho has spent just over two seasons in charge of Manchester United but his departure was not unexpected. His team were out-thought and outplayed at arch-rivals Liverpool on Sunday and the club has endured its worse start to a season in 28 years. There have often been public disagreements between Mourinho and Paul Pogba, one of United’s most expensive signings, and the manager was highly critical of United’s owners in the summer when they failed to give him funds to strengthen the squad. Players he did sign, like Alexis Sanchez, have made little impact, and team selections have remained controversial. He has also been criticised for giving longer contracts to the likes of Jesse Lingard, Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw while leaving one of the club’s brightest young talents, Marcus Rashford, sitting on the bench. United failed to win any silverware last season but did win the EFL Cup and Europa League in Mourinho’s first season in charge.
So United have tried European Cup winners and well-regarded British coaches as manager but the search for someone to lead them back to the Fergie glory days goes on with the board indicating that they will seek a new man from outside the club.
ZINEDINE ZIDANE (a general 2/1) is the very early favourite to succeed Mourinho. The Frenchman did lead Realm Madrid to three Champions League titles but whether he’d form the same attachment with United or enjoy the more intense atmosphere of the Premier League would be nothing more than speculation.
ANTONIO CONTE is also in the lists to be Next Manchester United Manager but there is a big difference in opinion about the Italian, who won the Premier League with Chelsea. He is as short as 2/1 with some bookmakers but as big as 12/1 with another. Conte is thought to be keen on the job, however, which puts him at an advantage over Zidane.
MAURICIO POCHETTINO is thought to be a natural fit for the United job but any compensation due to Spurs would be huge and the Argentinian likes London. Further, he is not the quick fix that most United fans desire.
RYAN GIGGS is 25/1 with Coral and his love for United is the stuff of legend but he lacks the experience necessary to fill such a high-profile post. LAURENT BLANC is 14/1 with sportingbet but hasn’t managed anywhere since leaving PSG in the summer of 2016.
Next Permanent Manchester United Manager Best Odds
Zinedine Zidane 2/1
Antonio Conte 12/1
Laurent Blanc 14/1
Leonardo Jardim 18/1
Mauricio Pochettino 20/1
Ryan Giggs 25/1
Michael Carrick 28/1
Eddie Howe and Carlo Ancelotti 33/1
Arsene Wenger 40/1
Didier Deschamps, Massimiliano Allegri, Brendan Rodger, Diego Simeone and Roberto Martinez 50/1
(Odds correct at 11.00am December 18)
